62 
TRAVELS IN 
learning the particulars, it appeared, that a large 
party of Indians had furprifed and plundered two 
trading houfes, in the ifthmus, beyond the river St. 
John's; and a third being timely apprifed of their hof- 
tile intentions, by a faithful runner, had time to carry 
off part of the effects, which they fecreted in a fwamp 
at fome diftance from it, covering them with Ikins. 
The upper (lore had faved their goods in like man- 
ner ; and the lower (lore to which we were bound, 
had removed the chief of theirs, and depofited them 
on a fmall ifiand, in the river, about five miles be- 
low the ftore. With thefe effects was my cheft, which 
I had forwarded in this veflel, from Savanna, not 
being at that time determined whether to make 
this journey by land, or water. The captain of our 
veflel, refolded to put about and return to Frede- 
rica, for freih inftruclions how to proceed ; but for 
my part, I was determined to proceed for the ifiand 
up St. John's, where my cheft was lodged, there be- 
ing fome valuable books and papers in it, which I 
could not do well without. I accordingly defired 
our captain to put me on more, on Little St. Si- 
mon's, which was not far did: ant, intending to walk 
a few miles to a fort, at the fouth end of that ifiand, 
where fome fifhermen refided, who, as I expected, 
would fet me over on Amelia Ifiand, where 
was a large plantation, the property of Lord Eg- 
mont, a Britifh nobleman, whofe agent, while I 
was at Frederica, gave me an invitation to call on 
him, as I pafled toward Eaft Florida ; and here I 
had expectations of getting a boat to carry me to 
Sr. John's. Agreeably to my defire, the captain 
put me on more, with a young man, a paflenger, 
lor Eaft Florida, who promifed to continue .with me, 
and fhare my adventures. We landed fafely ; the cap- 
tain wifhing us a proiperous journey, returned on 
. beard 
